Description FOIL STAMPING MACHINE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a foil stamping machine, and more particularly, to a foil stamping machine in which a reverse shaft or a conveyer for providing a pulling force in a direction opposite to a motion direction of a foil is provided to correct motion of the foil due to rotation inertia of a cylinder, thereby remarkably saving use of the foil. Background Art

[2] A foil stamping machine is a printing machine that prints a foil on a printing object such as paper by engaging a cylinder with a foil die provided at one side of the cylinder while allowing the printing object to pass through a gap between two cylinders and at the same time to pass through the foil at the same speed.

[3] The foil stamping machine requires exact technique to allow a foil to be printed on an exact position of a printing object by allowing the printing object and the foil to pass through a gap between two cylinders at the same speed and applying pressure to the foil. In this case, a problem occurs in that there is difficulty in exactly controlling tension of the foil, its rotational speed, and its winding speed.

[4] US Patent No. 5,611,272 developed to solve the above problem discloses an embossing and foil stamping machine. The embossing and foil stamping machine is designed such that a foil is wound in a winding reel by passing through a vacuum pressure belt and then an accumulator after printing is performed as the foil passes through two cylinders through a control shaft after passing through a foil supply accumulator.

[5] However, the related art foil stamping machine has drawbacks in that it has a complicated structure due to a number of structural parts provided to control tension of the foil and its motion, and many foils are consumed. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a foil stamping machine in which a foil is wound as much as printing range and a reverse shaft or a conveyer for providing a pulling force in a direction opposite to a motion direction of a foil is provided to save use of the foil excessively consumed by inertia and adhesion between a printing object and the foil. Technical Solution

[7] A foil stamping machine according to the present invention includes a storage reel wound by a foil, unwinding the foil whenever a printing is performed, a sensor sensing a height of the foil hung down by load, a forward conveyer guiding the foil unwound from the storage reel, a reverse conveyer providing a pulling force for pulling the foil in an opposite direction while rotating in a direction opposite to the forward conveyer, a foil cylinder provided with a foil die to perform printing of the foil which has passed through the reverse conveyer, and an impression cylinder rotating to perform foil printing while being engaged with the foil die of the foil cylinder.

[8] A foil stamping machine according to the present invention includes a storage reel wound by a foil, unwinding the foil whenever printing is performed, a sensor sensing a height of the foil to form an accumulator zone where the foil unwound from the storage reel is hung down by load, a friction pressurizing roller linked to the sensor, a rotation shaft connected to a motor unwinding the foil from the storage reel, a reverse shaft provided to adjoin the accumulator zone, rotating in a direction opposite to a motion direction of the foil, a pressurizing means pressurizing the foil to allow the foil to be closely adhered to the reverse shaft, a foil cylinder provided with a foil die to perform printing of the foil which has passed through the reverse shaft, an impression cylinder rotating to perform foil printing while being engaged with the foil die of the foil cylinder, winding shafts rotated to pull the foil which has passed through the impression cylinder and the foil cylinder, and a winding reel wound by the foil.

Advantageous Effects

[9] In a foil stamping machine according to the present invention, since a reverse shaft and a conveyer pull a foil at a certain force in an opposite direction, it is possible to save the foil consumed by rotation inertia of cylinders and adhesion between a printing object and the foil. Brief Description of the Drawings

[10] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a foil stamping machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and

[11] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a foil stamping machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[12] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[13] A foil stamping machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a storage reel 10 wound by a foil 2, unwinding the foil 2 whenever a printing object 1 is printed, a sensor 20 sensing a height of the foil 2 to form an accumulator zone 30 where the foil 2 unwound from the storage reel 10 is

hung down by load, a rotation shaft 11 connected to a motor unwinding the foil 2 from the storage reel 10 in conjunction with the sensor 20, a reverse shaft 40 provided to adjoin the accumulator zone 30, rotating in a direction opposite to a motion direction of the foil 2, an iron plate 51 serving as a pressurizing means pressurizing the foil 2 to be tightly adhered to the reverse shaft 40 to generate a frictional force, having one fixed end and partially pressing the foil 2 to be tightly adhered to the reverse shaft 40, and a weight body 52 movably provided on the iron plate 51 to control the pressure applied by the iron plate 51, a foil cylinder 70 provided with a foil die 71 to allow foil printing of the foil 2 through the reverse shaft 40, an impression cylinder 60 rotating in a state that it is engaged with the foil die 71 of the foil cylinder 70, so as to allow foil printing, winding shafts 45 and 46 rotated to pull the foil 2 which has passed between the impression cylinder 60 and the foil cylinder 70, a winding reel 80 winding the foil 2, and guide shafts 31, 41, 42, 43 and 44 guiding the foil 2.

[14] The storage reel 10 is wound by the foil 2, and if the end of the foil 2 is pulled, the foil 2 is unwound. The rotation shaft 11 connected to the motor is rotated below the storage reel 10 to unwind the foil 2. A roller 12 at a right side of the storage reel 10 is driven by a solenoid driver 13 and tightly adhered to the shaft 11 so that the roller 12 is rotated in a state that it is engaged with its opposite shaft 11. The solenoid driver 13 is driven in conjunction with the sensor 20. In other words, if the foil hung down toward the accumulator zone 30 is not sensed by the sensor 20, the solenoid driver 13 is driven so that the roller 12 is tightly adhered to the rotation shaft 11 to unwind the foil 2 from the storage reel 10. If the foil hung down toward the accumulator zone 30 is sensed by the sensor 20, the roller 12 is moved to the rear by the solenoid driver 13 so that the foil 2 is wound.

[15] The foil 2 is forced by the reverse shaft 40 to move to the accumulator zone 30. It is noted that the frictional force between the reverse shaft 40 and the foil 2 is varied by pressure applied to the iron plate 51. Accordingly, it is possible to control a pulling force of the reverse shaft 40 with respect to the foil 2 by moving the weight body 52.

[16] The foil 2 is tightly maintained to the winding shafts 45 and 46 by the reverse shaft

40. However, the foil 2 is gradually and regularly moved to the winding reel 80 as printing is performed by rotation of the foil cylinder 70 having the foil die 71. When printing is performed as the foil die 71 is tightly adhered to the impression die 60, the force for moving the foil 2 is greater than the pulling force of the reverse shaft 40.

[17] The winding shafts 45 and 46 are rotated as much as the number of rotation times previously determined. In other words, the winding shafts 45 and 46 are rotated as much as the arc length of the foil die 71 in conjunction with the foil cylinder 70. The moving foil 2 is wound in the winding reel 80 while the winding reel 80 is being rotated.

[18] Since the foil 2 is sensed by the sensor 20 under the state shown in FIG. 1, the roller

12 is moved to the rear by the operation of the solenoid driver 13. Therefore, the rotation shaft 11 is away from the roller 12. As a result, the foil 2 of the storage reel 10 is wound. Since the reverse shaft 40 is always rotated, the foil 2 is tightly maintained to the winding shafts 45 and 46 after passing through the guide shafts 41 to 44 from the reverse shaft 40.

[19] Under the circumstances, if the foil die 71 is rotated and thus engaged with the impression die 60 to perform foil printing, the foil 2 is moved to the winding shafts 45 and 46 by friction between the foil die 71 and the impression die 60, and at the same time the winding shafts 45 and 46 rotate as much as a predetermined number of rotation times and then stop. The foil 2 is tightly maintained by rotation of the reverse shaft 40.

[20] At this time, the reverse shaft 40 performs an important function. In other words, rotation inertia is transferred to the foil 2 by rotation of the heavy cylinders 70 and 60 even though the winding shafts 45 and 46 are accurately controlled. For this reason, the foil 2 may be moved a little more than expected. In other words, the foil 2 between the guide shaft 41 and the winding shafts 45 and 46 may be hung down if there is no reverse shaft 40. However, since the reverse shaft 40 is always rotated in an opposite direction, the foil 2 hung down is pulled toward the accumulator zone 30. Accordingly, the foil 2 to be consumed by rotation inertia is saved.

[21] If the foil 2 is wound in the winding reel 80 as the foil die 71 is rotated, the height of the foil 2 increases at the accumulator zone 30, thereby reaching the height that cannot be sensed by the sensor 20. At this time, the roller 12 is in contact with the rotation shaft 11 by the operation of the solenoid driver 13 so that the foil 2 is unwound until the height of the foil 2 is sensed by the sensor 20. If the foil 2 is sensed by the sensor 20, the solenoid driver 13 moves the roller 12 to the rear so that the foil 2 is not unwound any longer. Accordingly, the foil 2 is unwound appropriately if necessary.

[22] In a foil stamping machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, a storage reel 110, which unwinds a foil 102 wound therein whenever printing is performed, is connected to a driving motor 140 by a belt 141. Since an air brake comprised of a pneumatic cylinder 124 and a brake 125 is provided at one side of the storage reel 110, the storage reel 110 is always rotated by rotation of the driving motor 140 and stops rotation if the brake 125 is tightly adhered to the storage reel 110. At this time, the belt 141 is slid. The brake 125 is linked to a sensor 114.

[23] A forward conveyer 112 is provided below the storage reel 110 and is little inclined.

The forward conveyer 112 downwardly guides the foil 102 while rotating clockwise.

Also, the forward conveyer 112 is configured such that the belt is rotated by two rotation shafts, wherein a petrochemical product easily generating static electricity is used as the belt. The static electricity serves to allow the foil 102 to be adhered to a belt surface of the conveyer at a certain range. Also, wool 112a is closely adhered to an inner side of the belt to maximize the static electricity. The generated static electricity allows the foil 102 to be moved with friction along the conveyer and in advance prevents the foil 102 from being moved in an unwanted direction.

[24] A reverse conveyer 113 is provided below the storage reel 110. The reverse conveyer 113 is comprised of two rotation shafts and belts, and is provided with wool 113a therein to generate the static electricity. Since the reverse conveyer 113 is rotated in a direction opposite to motion of the foil 102, this conveyer tightly maintains the foil 102 and at the same time moves the foil 102 in a reverse direction, so that the foil 102 is prevented from being consumed. An iron plate 111 is provided at one side of the reverse conveyer 113 to press the foil 102 so that the foil 102 is to be tightly adhered to the conveyer.

[25] The foil 102 which has passed through the reverse conveyer 113 passes through guide shafts 115, 116 and 117 so that printing is performed between an impression cylinder 118 and a foil cylinder 119. Then, the foil 102 passes through a guide shaft 120. The foil cylinder 119 is provided with a foil die 119a for foil printing in a printing material. If the foil cylinder 119 is rotated one time, foil printing is performed in the printing material.

[26] The foil 102 which has passed through the guide shaft 120 passes through two winding rollers 121 and 122, which pull the foil 102. Since the winding rollers 121 and 122 are rotated as much as the arc length of a foil die 119a, the foil 102 moves at a certain length. The foil 102 passes through a guide shaft 123 and then is wound in a winding reel 130. Since the winding rollers 121 and 122 hold the foil 102 when they are not rotated, the foil 102 cannot be wound in the winding reel 130. Accordingly, the belt 142 is slid and the winding reel 130 runs idle.

[27] The operation of the aforementioned foil stamping machine according to the present invention will be described below.

[28] First, in FIG. 2, the driving motor 140 is rotated but the belts 141 and 142 engaged with the driving motor 140 are slid. Accordingly, the storage reel 110 and the winding reel 130 are not rotated. As a result, the foil 102 does not move. Simultaneously, the forward and reverse conveyers 112 and 113 are rotated along a rotational direction but the foil 102 is slid without being moved. A foil 140 for printing is downwardly moved so that the sensor 114 can sense the foil 102. The brake 125 linked to the sensor 114 is closely adhered to the storage reel 110 so that the foil 102 is not unwound.

[29] Under the circumstances, if the cylinders 118 and 119 are rotated to perform

printing in a state that a printing object 101 is disposed in a printing position, printing is performed by the foil die 119a and at the same time the foil 102 moves at a certain distance. Also, the winding rollers 121 and 122 are rotated as much as a predetermined number of rotation times, and the foil which has passed through the winding rollers

121 and 122 is wound in the winding reel 130. [30] Although it is given that the winding rollers 121 and 122 are rotated as much as the arc length of the foil die 119a, the foil 102 moves to the winding roller 121 a little more than the length by rotation inertia and adhesion between the printing object and the foil. This causes consumption of the foil 102. [31] However, since the reverse conveyer 113 is rotated in a direction opposite to motion of the foil, the foil 102 is retracted and thus tightly maintained, whereby unnecessary consumption of the foil 102 is removed. [32] In this way, if printing is performed, the foil 150 for printing reaches the height that cannot be sensed by the sensor 114. In this case, the brake 125 is released by a signal of the sensor 114, and the storage reel 110 is rotated by a driving force of the driving motor 140, whereby the foil is unwound. [33] The aforementioned operation is repeated so that foil printing is successively performed.

Industrial Applicability [34] The present invention relates to a stamping machine, and is particularly used for a foil stamping machine.